A former White House physician lashed out at former President Barack Obama, claiming he “weaponized the highest levels” of government to “spy” on his successor.
Ronny Jackson, who is running for Congress in Texas, made the accusation after Obama weighed in on the Justice Department’s dismissal of charges against Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, President Trump’s former national security adviser who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with a Russian diplomat.
Obama said Friday that the “rule of law is at risk” after the charges were dropped. Obama reportedly had warned Trump about hiring Flynn after he won the 2016 presidential election, but Trump brought Flynn to the White House anyway. Flynn resigned three weeks after Trump’s inauguration, admitting that he misled Vice President Mike Pence about his conversations with the Russian ambassador.
Trump allies have used the dismissal of charges as a rallying cry in attacking the FBI’s Russia investigation.
“Every Deep State traitor deserves to be brought to justice for their heinous actions,” Jackson tweeted Tuesday.
President Obama weaponized the highest levels of our government to spy on President Trump. Every Deep State traitor deserves to be brought to justice for their heinous actions.https://t.co/Lq8kSPb0Xb
— Ronny Jackson (@RonnyJackson4TX) May 12, 2020
Jackson served in the White House under Presidents George W. Bush, Obama, and Trump. Trump nominated him to be secretary of Veterans Affairs, but Jackson later withdrew his nomination after allegations of misconduct. He left the White House in 2019 to run for Congress as a Republican.
Tommy Vietor, a former spokesman for Obama, was shocked by Jackson’s comment.
“Ronny Jackson was friends with Obama and his entire staff. I never heard him make a partisan statement. So it’s really been sad to watch him debase himself by lying for Trump and promoting this toxic bullshit to win a Congressional primary. Truly shameful,” he tweeted Wednesday, including photos of Jackson and Obama.
Ronny Jackson was friends with Obama and his entire staff. I never heard him make a partisan statement. So it’s really been sad to watch him debase himself by lying for Trump and promoting this toxic bullshit to win a Congressional primary. Truly shameful. pic.twitter.com/l5CbxIv6gz
— Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) May 13, 2020
